Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I am sure that the girl had never touched a piano in her life with that status of hers." Eve heard a few girls making fun of Evan sarcastically there voice was filled with ridicule. and she bit her lips as she looked at Eli with fear.

If Evan played badly, not even her, the whole Thawyne family would be mocked. All the nerves or Eli's face could be seen popping as she continued to glare at Evan and try to find a way to cancel the competition right there. She could see the snicker on the faces of nobles who never dared to even look at them directly and now their faces were filled with sarcasm.

Her head twisted and looked at Evan with a smile that was uglier than a frown.  At a volume where only the two of them could hear, she gritted her teeth and said, "shall I hint you with my fingers. If there is one it will be the black key and if there are two then it will be a white key." but then she shook her head as there would still be many black and white keys.

"If you embarrass our family, I will strangle you to death." she threatened and Evan gulped. Her face filled with fear when she looked around to get some strength.

Leo entered, he stauntered towards her with a stiff smile on his face. "If you win and make our family proud, my sword will stab you till death." her face turned white as she looked at the pair of siblings. They were truly cut from the same cloth. Bully!  She trembled from head to foot and clutched her dress tightly. She could imagine Eli running behind her with a dagger and on the other side Leo, waiting for her with a sword in her hand.

She jumped, ready to run away from the room. As no matter what she would choose, she would be the dead meat. But as she stood up thinking how to save her neck, the stern gaze of Leo and Eli froze her in her place.

As if they both were telling move a step further and they would skin her alive right there. She had never felt so much pressure in her life. She could only gulp and nod but her hands had turned sweaty and her eyes were close to tears.

Leo moved closer to her and whispered,  "Are you forgetting the promise you had made? This is the best opportunity for now. Why are you trying to back off?"

If she lost the match, she would be mocked but at the same time nobles would mock them for choosing her. Though it was a bit extreme. It will break the marriage for sure. If not, they could repeat it a few more times. He was sure that his perfect sister would burst and make sure that the marriage would be broken then.

She finally understood now; this man was not only cold and elegant, but he was also someone who did not even care twice while sending someone to the guillotine! Like her! He did not even assure her once that he would protect her from Eli later.

Leo sighed, he knew that she was afraid of Eli, and he knew that he would not be able to stop Eli and it was certain that she was going to burst out. He took the glass of red wine that was served by the servant to the guests and the pressure built in. The dark red color of the alcohol reflected perilous rays under the chandelier.

He sipped a mouthful calmly. And then looked at the girl who was looking no less than a frightened rabbit who was trying to put brave upfront. He moved closer and whispered again as if he was wishing her luck and spoke as only both of them could hear.

"If you lost, I will give you double the jewels than you had taken with yourself when you ran away."

Evan stared at Leo with bulging eyes. She lifted her fingers and counted immediately. The jewels she had at that time were already so precious that she would have lived for years on them. But If it was doubled...

Her eyes shone brightly in an instant. She could visualize her own house and a musical center where all the instruments were firmly decorated. She nodded her head and sat on the stool again and took a deep breath.

Her eyes blazed with determination like a soldier was going to war.

Olivia had already finished the song and was looking at the scenario with a smirk on her face. She was sure that a commoner like Evangeline would not have ever seen a piano before much less play fine music, while this was one of the most difficult tones. She could see the tension in the eyes of Eli and Leo.

A large applause filled the room. Every guest had already decided who was the winner of the competition. Like Olivia they did not have any hopes from Evan, and the grave discussion of siblings with Evan had confirmed their thoughts.

She was a professional pianist, that was why she had challenged her for playing piano even though there were various other ways for showing her real value to the world. She was sure that a commoner could never play better than her. So when she would be announced as the winner later, she would chase Evan out on the name of bet.

Even if she was shameless to deny the bet after losing, she could still show her real face to everyone. Only she knew how she had borne when everyone was trying to flatter her and offer her gifts that were meant to hers in the first place.

She had felt the fury all the time. So this was her chance to shine again and show her the difference between the nobles and commoners again.